I am starting to wonder what lies they have been told about us.  I also wonder if the whole city is run by and cowers in presence of Police Chief Call.  Does he own the mayor, licensing offices and zoning?   

Well one of those registered letters got us a response.

The licensing department wants our church to buy a business license.  RIGHT NOW!  Or they’ll fine us!

Sheeze, are they going to go bankrupt without it?

We have told them twice, in writing, that when they can show us the city ordinances that require churches to get a business license to collect donations we will be gladly pay them the lousy $35 plus the $15 late fee. 

The clerk says we have to provide proof that we are a religion with our corporation papers to not pay.  These are on the Utah government website, anyone can look it up!  Can't we just send her the link in an email?

Then within the hour, that call was followed up with a call from the legal counsel for the city with the same request adding the demand that we provide the laws that prove the constitutional religious rights we are demanding… EXCUSE ME? 

They have no knowledge of federal regulations concerning religious rights!  What kind of law school did they go to?  Should I buy them a copy of the constitution? Can’t they even Google anything?

We are a religion, not a law firm.  Yet, we know our rights.  How comes they don’t?

And why do they think we have to drop everything in our world and jump through their flaming hoops of stupidity? 

It has to be because we do tattoos services...

Did they require the Baptist church across the street to do this?  Did they have to get out all of their legal paperwork and write convincing legal arguments using laws, statues, rules and precedence to prove their right to worship by the dictates of their conscience? 

Did they have to buy a business license to pass the plate every Sunday?  Their pastor is getting paid for his services, for his time, for his counsel and advice. 

Why are we so being treated so differently?

Because, unlike the local "authorities" we believe that tattoos and piercings are spiritual services. 

We have 7000 years of human history to backup that claim.  Most times, not always, we collect donations in exchange for our time, our counsel, our advice and the act of tattooing. 

This exchange of funds isn’t so different from the LDS church that requires their members to pay %10 of their income to receive spiritual services in their temples and the right to wear holy underwear.

So the city wants us to prove our right to be a religion.  And we will do so sometime in the next few days, when we can get around to it. 

They should be happy that they aren’t the first issue on our shit list. 

For the record, it is against federal law for anyone to question your religious beliefs.   This was proved by many cases, one case in particular in the Utah Supreme Court.  Which the Mormons lost… Google!

So, if you want to believe that God is a purple cow in outer space and that picking your nose is a spiritual service that is your constitutional right!  And if you want to collect donations from those who want you to pick their nose for them, you don’t have to have a zoning permit or business license.

I’d like to point out that no one makes Mormons prove that God visited Joseph Smith or that their baptism and temple ordinances are the only way back to God's kingdom after death.  We all just let them have their beliefs - it's their business!

So who do these people think they are?  This is so fucking juvenile!  Put on your thinking caps before you speak! 

Or at least, GOOGLE!

I don’t know all of the reasons why certain city “officials” have taken a dislike to us when we have always been considered good members of our community, without complaint for over 20 years… But they have.

Perhaps it is simply that being an FBI trained terrorist specialist in American Fork Utah is sort of boring… I guess taking one’s own advice about who should and who shouldn’t live in Utah might actually be in order here.

I have to admit though, that I have had many other suspicions of what the real problems might be.  Nothing I can say here, as I wouldn’t want to draw more negative attention to myself by publicly psycho-analyzing anyone with a gun….

I wouldn’t be very charitable about my opinions right now, to say the least.

Anyhow, I’m being forced into taking a crash course in law.

Which I have been planning on studying at Wayne State, after I got my life settled, back in Detroit. Well actually I wanted to study political science and then get a degree in law, specializing in civil rights cases.

I haven't had much interest in criminal law. I don't see myself as one of those people who would need to.  I usually mind my own business, wanting just to live and let live. And yet here I am, in the thick of it and can now see that my way of thinking was too simplistic.

Since this situation is interfering with my original plans, I have decided to make the best of it and start writing about what I am learning.  Perhaps, I can make this whole mess into something that would benefit more people than just myself.

Things are going to change a bit here. I will be writing about the law more. About how it works, how to use it and how it applies to current events and attitudes.

Law is a pretty dry topic at times. Perhaps that’s why so many people don’t know very much about it.

Which means that you, like most everybody I know, don’t really know your rights…

And…

If you don’t know your rights, you are forfeiting them.

I pointed out to the Mayor that in America, our religious views were just as tolerated as his were and if the majority did in fact feel as he suggested, still their moral convictions did not have the force of law, nor did the moral convictions of anyone in the community justify police harassment and fraudulent prosecution.

While I provided all the Utah Laws I could find (quite a few) for the Mayor that support our position and reviewed with him in detail (our meeting was 1 hour and 50 minutes) the law that I am being charged under, showing him how plainly the law details how we are not guilty of violation, he seemed hesitant to accept what disagreed with his "church" perspective.

The Mayor also claimed that the intimidation of our assistant manager Shandi Child was nothing more than female over-reaction, claiming that "women often over-react" and that Lt. Falslev probably didn't say anything that should have upset her.

Yet, the Lt. after telling me that his part in the investigation was over and that he had forwarded all materials to the County Attorney (Jan 10), he immediately upon leaving our studio, called Shandi and threatened her with a year in prison, taking away her two year old child etc. adding that only because he was a nice guy and he thought she was a good person (though he accused her of being a pornographer and a criminal on several occasions) was he recommending that she be charged with a misdemeanor instead, adding that if he felt like it he could prefer felony charges and put her away for a year.

In spite of explaining this to the Mayor, he still felt that women are prone to over excitement and exaggeration and completely discounted Shandi's report and her reaction.

I left Mayor Thompson with his promise to follow up with me on his investigation of our complaints regarding the bigoted, fascist, anti-American and unlawful actions of his police and zoning departments.

I expect to follow up with him today (Tuesday).

Meanwhile, it looks like one of the authorities I have spoken to recently decided to do something right and I got a phone call from Lt. Falslev late Monday (yesterday) telling me that (according to him) I had a third option regarding the supposed zoning violation he delivered to us January 14th.

At the time, he told us that we had until January 31st to move out of the parsonage, which is an apartment originally built onto the rear of the building housing the ministry which was intended as a residence for the owner of the business occupying the front portion of the building.

Later he told the SLWeekly that we didn't have to move out (funny how his story changes so often) but that we simply needed to apply for a zoning variance so that we could live in a commercial zone.

Of course as I have shown not only are we not in violation because we have a residence in a commercial zone, but there are hundreds of residences in the same commercial zone, some also attached to or incorporated into commercial buildings.

In addition to charging us with a fake zoning violation, which Jim Hardy, the zoning enforcement officer refuses to even discuss with us, though his name is handwritten in as the inspector and his name and phone number are circled by Lt. Falslev for us, Jim insists on referring us to the Chief of Police or Lt. Falslev.

Then when Utah State Representative Chris Johnson called on this issue for us, whoever she talked to told her that we needed to apply for a caretaker permit and that no one was trying to evict us.

It is interesting that on the actual order, the violation is stated as "residence in a commercial zone" and the place to write in the "correction" is blank - though the Lt. told us we had two weeks to move out - though if we needed more time we could call him and he would give it to us.

I think it bizarre that the police apparently run the whole town here and appointed officials defer to them so completely.

Am I wrong to see this as a police rather than a zoning action?

Anyway, yesterday Lt. Falslev informed me of a third option, which is that if I would get a letter from someone (he didn't know who for sure) in zoning that acknowledged our ministry's right to use the apartment as a residence while using the business portion of the building for the ministry that he would consider that just as good as a zoning variance.

Weird, huh?

He also told me that if I had trouble finding out who to get to do that for me, that I was welcome to call him (the Lt.) and he would find the person, get any forms needed and meet together with me and the person to get any paperwork done so that the zoning issue could be resolved.

So it looks like the city (or is it just the police?) is backing down on one of their harassments.

I still have to deal with the city's insistence that the ministry has to have a business license even though they have had a month to show me the ordinance or law that requires it and have failed to do so - still they demand it and I got a letter from them Saturday requesting their $30 and a $15 late fee and demanding that we cease to operate until the license is obtained.

I think it is pretty odd that when they asked me for a legal reference establishing my claim that the ministry did not need such a license, I provided it, telling them that if I was in error I would gladly buy a license when they showed me the law that said I needed to - but now a month later, no law, just a demand for money and that I shut down the ministry until I pay up.

Oh, I'm trying to think of something nice to say about that!

Well, one nearly down and several more to go I guess.

Oh, I suppose I should also mention that yesterday the Utah County Commissioner called me to tell me that contrary to what Lt. Falslev told us on January 10th, the County Attorney has not received any materials relating to us and that they would not have anything to do with us unless Felony charges were being sought.

What am I supposed to think about that???

Well, I think our City Attorney, Tucker Hansen must be an imbecile and I also think that our stuff is still sitting in the police evidence room as an attempt to impede our ability to offer services, since we have no samples of our work to show patrons.

The police and city attorney have already shown that they employ the tactic of leaving an investigation open, even when there is no crime committed and no chance of a successful prosecution should they prefer charges, just to have something to hold over your head.

They have preferred the same charge against me three times now, dropping it twice and then re-charging me for my impertinence in refusing to fire a valued staff member (remember Shandi?) who had not only not done anything wrong and had not broken any law, but actually had done exactly as she should have and was protecting the values of the offended parent rather than attempting to corrupt youth as the police claimed.

Well, it's early.

I'll write more later today.

Maybe Mayor Thompson will want to give me another LDS Sunday School lesson disguised as law.

Oh, by the way, I thought it was funny - the Mayor wanted me to know that not only did his church have the 13 articles of faith and he only wanted to quote Article 12, though he could only paraphrase (we believe in obeying the law of the land) and didn't know which article he was referring to, but he made a big deal about it telling us that Joseph Smith wrote a book "Lectures on Faith" to expound further on the Articles of Faith.

This was funny to me because "Lectures on Faith" is not at all about the 13 articles of faith. There is a book called "The Articles of Faith" written by LDS Apostle, Dr. James Talmadge, a cousin of mine I'm told which was the official LDS Sunday School text for adults in the 60's (I think it was the 60's). Only the polygamists read Joseph Smith's "Lectures on Faith" and they don't understand it too well either. Well, as I mentioned earlier, I shared with the Mayor that he should give his lesson on LDS doctrine to his LDS police officers and city attorney - about obeying the laws of the land. I worry some that the Mayor's brain is old.

Here is a quick and easy list of things you can do.

#1. Make comments at our news articles – Every comment helps to keep our stories on the front page as a popular article and keeps the public aware that there is a problem here in AF.

Deseret News - http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695246368,00.html

Salt Lake City Weekly -  http://www.slweekly.com/index.cfm?do=article.details&id=CBA4CF9D-BADC-AA99-7FDEB5A17926274A

#2. We also need people to tell the media about our situation.  eMail or call your favorite TV, Radio Stations & talk show hosts.  You can send them to the newspaper articles above or to a summary page at Doc’s blog - http://docloco.com/category/happy-valley-tattoo-massacre/

#3. Write a letter for us to post at our website – http://tat2me.com - about how you feel about your tattoos and what they mean to you. Send them to Kita at – kitakazoo@hotmail.com  Include a photo if you can!

#4. Register to vote so you can come in and sign our petitions when they are ready. http://elections.utah.gov/VoterRegistrationForm.pdf

#5. Put February 22, 2008 on your calendar, that is Doc’s Court Hearing and we are probably going to have a rally that day.

#6. Write about this situation on your blog.  If you send us a link, we will post it on ours!   

#7. Forward this to your friends in Utah!

Thank you so much for your support!

Doc, Kita & Gang

Eric refers to my “gospel of ink and piercings” and while we do consider tattooing and piercing spiritual practices and services, they do not form the foundation of our belief or teachings.

We teach the golden rule and responsible living as a spiritual path.

We use the talents God has given us to give meaning to our lives and to bless the lives of others.

Many people, especially in Utah may see our spiritual practices and services as unorthodox, yet tattooing and piercing have been spiritual practices in every culture in all of recorded history including ancient Hebrew and both ancient and modern Christian culture.

Whole Life Ministries does have an official Statement of Belief: Our relationship with, interpretation and practice of our spirituality is personal and derived from the Law of Reciprocity and the Golden Rule. Gregory & Katrina Lowrey

Aside from this statement, we believe in using what we consider sacred gifts from God in our spiritual practice.

Donations from patrons receiving tattoo and piercing services support the day to day operations of the ministry and allow us to provide healing, counseling and other charity services to those who are in need.

I would like to correct a few items from Eric’s article:

In May, it was two, not “several” boys who used fraud and deceit to obtain services that were prohibited by studio policy.

The boys were charged, and convicted of FRAUD in this incident by American Fork City and the obvious victims of that fraud was the ministry and staff.

Now the city is attempting to prosecute the VICTIMS in retaliation for my refusal to fire a valued staff member who has been slandered by the police and who has committed no crime.

I believe that the existing Police Report and the State Law alone are sufficient defense to prove our innocence in this matter.

The new investigation of “Display to a minor” is well covered by the Utah Attorney General and the published Utah AG position puts the materials under consideration in the two categories of 1) Art and 2) Sociological materials of Educational Value, which in the determination of the Utah Attorney General are decidedly NOT pornographic.

In spite of our self-imposed restrictions on access by minors such materials according to Utah state law are legally “of value to minors” and as such are legally considered appropriate to be viewed by minors with or without parental consent.

We have the right to make such restrictions and even though the law would support us allowing minors to view such materials, we have always felt a responsibility to our community to enforce such restrictions even though we are not required by law to do so.

The statement of Lt. Falslev that he is “just doing his job” would be great if it was true.

The fact is, they raided us and accused us of distributing pornography to a minor before they did any investigation at all.

The police were not “just doing their job” – they were inventing the law according to their own concepts of morality to attack spiritual practices who’s value they do not personally share.

Also, it should be pointed out that it has now been a month since our ministry was invaded by the police and yet to this date no charges have been filed against us.

I believe this is simply because the city knows they have no case and they are using the cover of law to harass us.

In the words of the late four-term New York senator and former United Nations ambassador Patrick Moynihan, “You’re entitled to your own opinions. You’re not entitled to your own facts.”

Our ministry and our practice of religion are supported by Utah Law.

The behavior of American Fork City is in violation of Utah and US Law.

My healing services are not in imitation of LDS priesthood blessings, but while I was a chiropractic student in the late 1970’s I was trying to understand the physical mechanism of spiritual healing as in LDS blessings and it was this search for understanding that led me to the healing work I have performed for the last 30 years.

The “scientific” nature of my work allows for great success in treatment and many hundreds of patients have benefited from my healing work which is described in detail in brochures and on my website.

Since most of my patients are so sick by the time they come to me, having already exhausted traditional medicine without success, they often have not been able to work for some time before I see them and they most often receive services as charity.

These charity services do not pay the rent, so to speak, and have for the last 20 years been subsidized by the donations received from tattoo and piercing services.

Prior to inviting President Gorbachev to consider my plan for ending the “cold war”, I twice offered the same plan to President Reagan but he couldn’t seem to let go of his notion of forced peace at the end of a gun.

President Reagan would have George Shultz send me pages and pages of their “peace plan” which essentially detailed all the weapons that the USA had stationed all over the world to force people to be peaceful.

After rejection by President Reagan, I sent the same proposal to President Gorbachev, which was no small task in those days and it was immediately accepted and successfully employed by him.

I didn’t ask for credit and I didn’t receive any, though President Gorbachev won the Nobel Peace Prize for implementing my initiative.

I have also offered many times to end the war in Iraq, which I believe could be done in two months or less with the immediate end of non-combatant fatalities, but in spite of President Bush’s claim that he would consider “any” plan to end the war, he seems uninterested in considering my plan – also published on my website for those who are interested.

I no longer give President Bush the credit I used to for sincerity and now believe that he is a warmonger who intends to keep us at war for his own financial advantage and for the financial advantage of his friends and associates and that his claims to seek peace are deception.

The studio policy of not allowing minors to enter without a parent of guardian was our original policy which has always been posted on our front door.

Since the incident with AFCity, we have chosen to accommodate Utah law and now allow unaccompanied minors in the ministry studio reception area though they cannot discuss tattoo or piercing services without a parent or legal guardian.

There are many other more traditional spiritual services that we have always offered that minors have every legal right to avail themselves of, including public church meetings which are held in the same area which serves as the studio reception area.

Until the balance of remodeling is completed, which will allow a separate entrance and meeting place for church services and healing/counseling, patrons must use the available facilities.

Regarding our current zoning issues, the police tell a different story to each person who asks about it but have yet to produce any actual City Ordinance which supports any of their claims/charges.

Also, AFCity claims that our church must purchase a business license and demands that we cease to offer services until we do so.

I understand that many people may have the opinion that we are a business or that our services are not spiritual, and while each person certainly has a right to their own opinion, opinion does not equal law.

The laws of Utah and the United States support our ministry and the services we render.

I’m sure if other churches were required to purchase a business license before they could take tithing, pass the collection plate, sell a bible, rent temple clothing, etc. there would be a major outcry from their membership and the community at large.

And while Lt. Falslev very nicely says that “I don’t see these people as different, I’ve always found them to be very nice and decent folks.”, his actions and his efforts to prosecute us on false charges betray a radically different perspective altogether.

I maintain that our Civil and Religious rights have been violated under the following citations from the Utah State Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

Utah State Constitution

ARTICLE I

Section 1. [Inherent and inalienable rights.] All men have the inherent and inalienable right to enjoy and defend their lives and liberties; to acquire, possess and protect property; to worship according to the dictates of their consciences; to assemble peaceably, protest against wrongs, and petition for redress of grievances; to communicate freely their thoughts and opinions, being responsible for the abuse of that right.

Sec. 3. [Utah inseparable from the Union.] The State of Utah is an inseparable part of the Federal Union and the Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the land.

Sec. 4. [Religious liberty.] The rights of conscience shall never be infringed. The State shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office of public trust or for any vote at any election; nor shall any person be incompetent as a witness or juror on account of religious belief or the absence thereof. There shall be no union of Church and State, nor shall any church dominate the State or interfere with its functions. No public money or property shall be appropriated for or applied to any religious worship, exercise or instruction, or for the support of any ecclesiastical establishment. No property qualification shall be required of any person to vote, or hold office, except as provided in this Constitution.

Sec. 7. [Due process of law.] No person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property, without due process of law.

The Bill of Rights of the United States of America

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

While Whole Life Ministries considers the pretended charges against us to be easily overcome in a court of law, we also consider that the abuses against us are not exclusive to our ministry or religious exercise but are a single example of abuse suffered by many citizens of this community and that our efforts to bring to light such abuse of public trust and presumed authority by public servants will hopefully serve to help eliminate such abuse of the public in the future.

"They that give up liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety." -Benjamin Franklin

I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me also remind you that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!" -Barry Goldwater

Sincerely,

Reverend Dr. Gregory Lowrey

CEO

Whole Life Ministries

PS

American Fork City is also in violation of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2002.

Mayor Thompson was very interested in our ministry and was somewhat confused about how we could have a spiritual perspective regarding something that his church (guess which one) teaches is a desecration.

I mentioned in my last post that I would much prefer to be writing about spirituality than about our problems with local fascism - or is it just ignorance?

I have a hard time believing these government leaders are that ignorant.

Anyway, Mayor Thompson wanted to know about our beliefs.

He pointed out that his church had the 13 articles of faith and even gave a little summary of article 12, though I would have rather talked about article 11, and he wanted to know if we also had such a statement of belief.

So, though I have discussed this before, I thought it might be nice to take a moment and review a couple of our beliefs.

One of our main beliefs of course is that to participate in our ministry a person is not required to believe in any particular manner.

Each person is encouraged to seek their spiritual path according to their needs and understanding, not ours.

People who are drawn to study with us or seek counseling or to read what we write, etc. are likely going to agree to some degree with what we have discovered on our own spiritual paths, but we do not require anything from anyone but ourselves.

We teach and practice the golden rule. James, (purported to be the actual brother of Jesus) called it the "royal law" and Jesus claimed it was essentially the only law, all others being derived therefrom.

So my first and foremost statement of faith - Don't be a Dick.

My goal for our ministry (our mission statement if you will), at least part of it is to help others develop a personal relationship with God (however or whatever they perceive God to be) and to learn how to be a good neighbor both locally and globally based on living according to the "golden rule".

I believe that "sin" occurs when you place any man, object or influence between yourself and your God/individuality/potential.

So what for one person is a sin, for another is not.

For example, if I have a beer with my lunch, it is no problem and does not interfere with my spiritual practice or growth, but my neighbor may find that if he has a beer with his lunch, he feels so conflicted and evil because of it that he must immediately run out and rape a cow or something and miss his spiritual opportunities.

I believe that it is self-destructive to "hide your talents".

I exercise my talents to heal, to write, to sing, to love, to perform art, to teach and to care, among other things.

I believe in service, especially do I believe that it is important to render personal service and to perform your own charity work, especially for the people that have been placed in your immediate locale.

I guess you could say I believe in serving your neighbor as in the story of the "good Samaritan".

I believe in respecting the beliefs of others and I expect them to respect mine likewise.

I don't believe in forcing my views down others throats and I don't believe in them trying to do it to me either.

I don't believe in "digging a pit for my neighbor". I am annoyed by those who do.

Mayor Thompson, as I mentioned brought up the LDS 12th article of faith (obeying, honoring and sustaining the law) and I had to point out to him that it was not us that were failing in that regard.

He needed to have his people learn to obey the law - we already were.

But one thing I didn't share with him that I wish I had is that I believe "the law" (and as a non-Mormon I do not feel bound by a Mormon interpretation of course) is what Jesus (remember Jesus?) said is the law - what James called the "royal law" which is that you treat other people as you would be treated and love your neighbor as yourself.

Any "law" different than that to me is not law.

Any "law" that promotes inequality or that disfranchises or abuses one person while elevating another is to me - not law.

I believe that the US Constitution was established to promote "law" according to the "golden rule" and that equality under the law is in fact the law in the United States of America.

So I believe in and sustain and obey that law.

If I was living under a fascist government, I doubt I would obey fascist laws.

I would obey the law taught by Jesus.

And how about that 11th article of faith anyway?

And the 13th?

I like those a lot.

Thank God, since I am not LDS, I can disregard the LDS articles of faith I don't believe in.

And in that I am supported by the law.

I wish the LDS would learn and obey their own articles of faith.

It would make my life a lot simpler.

And Jesus would also be happy.

So, one more belief.

I practice what I preach and encourage everyone else to do the same.

I want to thank Mayor Thompson for treating us so kindly today and taking much more time than we had scheduled to discuss our issues.

I hope he can see beyond the fact that we are of a different faith than he is and recognize that "the law" protects us both in our choice of faith, even if mine confuses him a little.

I'm sure as seeks divine guidance he will see that Jesus loves me just as much as he and that our constitutional rights are just as protected and sacred as his.

Salt Lake City Weekly

http://www.slweekly.com/index.cfm?do=article.details&id=CBA4CF9D-BADC-AA99-7FDEB5A17926274A

T stands for tattoo, and also trouble—with the law at least—when it comes to a clash between the Rev. Gregory Lowery’s combined Happy Valley Tattoo/Whole Life Ministries and the city of American Fork. Lowery’s unorthodox gospel of ink and piercings, he believes, has drawn religious discrimination from city law enforcement, who might not consider the buzzing of tattoo guns to be as heavenly as the church bells of that old-time religion. City officials, however, say their investigations have nothing to do with beliefs and everything to do with protecting minors.

In May 2007, several underage boys used fake IDs to get tattoos from Happy Valley Tattoo. The receptionist was later fired, but owner and church founder Lowery believes charges weren’t really brought against him until he complained about treatment from a more recent investigation. That probe deals with minors who came into the shop several days after this past Christmas and saw explicit photos of genital piercings. One of the minors, a 14-year-old girl, told her father of seeing explicit images in a display binder at the store. The father complained and, on Jan. 3, the police investigated the parlor and confiscated a number of photos and other pieces of evidence.

Lowery says most of his shop’s photos of nude piercings are contained in a binder clearly marked ‘‘adult” but, in this case, a few images of pierced genitalia were featured in the public display binder. Besides, Lowery argues, those pictures had educational value—much like nude images one might see in a National Geographic magazine—and, therefore, aren’t illegal.

“When the officers showed up, they pretty much told us that if we didn’t like what they were doing that we could pack up and leave town,” Lowery says of the investigation. “I think our civil liberties have been violated,” Lowery says. “They [American Fork police] are conflicted because of their own religious beliefs.”

Lowery currently has enlisted the help of the Utah chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, which as of press time hadn’t agreed to take on a discrimination case but is investigating the claims.

Lt. Darren Falslev, who’s leading the investigation, believes any notion of discrimination is unfounded. “The thing you have to remember here is the police didn’t initiate this,” Falslev says. “We got a complaint from a parent who called it in. As a police department, we are obligated to look into it.”

Lowery believes he is being harassed because his religious belief that celebrates tattooing clashes with those of the members of the LDS Church, who dominate his community.

“Tattooing and piercing reinforce your self-image,” Lowery says of his beliefs, “just like CTR rings and garments. But these are permanent and painful, so they have to be sincere, to express to other people their belief system. Any way you look at it, it’s a spiritual exercise. But the church in Utah considers it desecrating the flesh.”

Lowery started his ministry back in 1985 in Michigan. Back then, it was known as People for Peace. Lowery’s background then wasn’t in tattooing, but in a specialized “healing.” Lowery wouldn’t go into specifics of how the healing worked except to say that it scientifically re-creates the effect of an LDS priesthood blessing.

During this time he began developing a unique nondenominational faith that centered simply on Jesus’ Golden Rule of loving thy neighbor as thyself. “We teach people how to apply the Golden Rule in their lives, but we don’t tell people how or who to worship,” Lowery says. Lowery’s gospel of love and peace, he believes, has made a great impact in the world, including helping to end the Cold War. Lowery says he sent a letter outlining a plan for peace to former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. “After I sent the letter, Mikhail followed [the plan] to a T, and the Cold War was over.”

Since moving his ministry to Utah in the last 10 years, clients admit that while Lowery may be eccentric, his compassion for people and his work is very real.

“On a personal level, [Happy Valley Tattoo is] absolutely fantastic; they just make you feel like family,” says client Tracey Ford, of Provo. “Sure, they make me bleed, but during the tattooing, they’ll talk to you and just prompt such a warmth and connection with you. It’s just amazing.”

Lowery, who runs his business and ministry with wife Kita, has worked since the investigation to be more sensitive to the concerns of his neighbors. “We’ve now made it a policy that no minor can be in the store without a parent or guardian,” Lowery says. “We’re just trying to improve the industry for those who believe it’s a spiritual practice and for those who don’t.”

Following the police search of his shop earlier this month, Lowery was also served with a notice that he is illegally using his commercial business as a residence. On Lowery’s Website DocLoco.com, where he has been chronicling the alleged “harassment” in a series of posts entitled “Happy Valley Massacre,” he describes this latest zoning development as “the next attempt on behalf of the American Fork City government to chase a religion they don’t personally approve of (er … not Mormon) out of town.”

Police Lt. Falslev, however disagrees. “This is just a notice given that they have to apply for a variance [zoning permit] and come into compliance,” Falslev says of the Jan. 18 notice. “There’s no chance they’re going to be evicted.”

Falslev likewise points out that laws protecting minors are strict throughout Utah, so he disagrees with Lowery’s persecution argument. “I don’t see these people as different, I’ve always found them to be very nice and decent folks.”

Read Dr. Lowrey's response to this article here

PLEASE DIGG THIS STORY!

read more | digg story

I feel a need to comment though on a comment received on the Happy Valley Tattoo & Piercing blog (http://tat2me.com) where a complaint is made about our contention that this is an act of religious discrimination by members of the LDS church attempting to illegally and contra-constitutionally LDS-ize the community.

LDS Church President Spencer Kimball was the first, as I recollect, to begin instructing members to “Mormonize” their communities in the capacity of citizens rather than as Mormons.

His instructions to form citizen groups to influence politics and community standards and to no longer use LDS Church buildings or Church meetings as political platforms has continued to today and has spawned many small and huge political action groups that are essentially directed by Mormons and intend to further an agenda that is particularly and generally, though not always exclusively Mormon.

It should be no surprise to anyone who understands the tax laws and reads Utah news that the LDS Church has had their tax-exempt status threatened a few times by the IRS, each time making changes to avoid revocation of that exempt status.

The two major threats to tax exemption for the Church occurred during President Kimball’s Presidency as he thrust the LDS Church into the national spotlight with his aggressive temple building program and his efforts to vastly enlarge the missionary force and the creation of the Every Member A Missionary program, which was it’s most aggressive during his years at the helm of the church.

The threats to revoke exemption revolved around the ability of BYU football to participate in collegiate games along with secular college teams while BYU, and by extension, the LDS Church continued policies that the Government considered violations of Civil Rights Law, especially in regard to denying full church privileges to persons of African Negroid descent.

At the time it was very common to hear political speeches from the pulpit and local and regional congregations often formed, sponsored and provided meeting facilities for political action groups, mostly made up of LDS membership.

The major thrust of political action at the time was the extremely volatile Equal Rights Amendment and many sermons were delivered, even in General Conference denouncing the ERA as a tool of Satan designed to destroy Patriarchal social structure and was seen as a direct attack on the LDS Priesthood.

Many Mormon women’s groups formed supporting the ERA and many of those women, previously held in high esteem by the Church now were vilified and excommunicated and branded to be in league with the Devil.

It was a very turbulent and disturbing time in Mormon history.

It was for several years regularly and well covered in the National and International Press.

So the church responded to the threat to BYU sports, by claiming to receive a revelation that God had changed his mind and that now black Africans could hold the priesthood and receive the “higher” priesthood ordinances in the LDS Temples.

Many thin skinned Mormons likely are upset now that I mention this as a claim to revelation, but it was pretty well documented at the time, the best interview I can recall by Mormon Apostle LeGrand Richards confirming that this was a pretend revelation and theological capitulation, conspired to meet the financial threat from the IRS.

If you fit in this group, please don’t assuage your ignorance by hating me, do some research yourself, read and understand the truth and deal with it maturely.

The other threat of course was the 501.c.3 tax exemption requirement that prohibits using the church as a political tool and it is this that we are getting to.

The Church’s response was as already described; a ban on church organized and sanctioned political activity, substituting members acting as citizens to move ahead the political and social LDS agenda.

Over the years this has grown to be an accepted and common part of Mormonism and some of the techniques employed by Mormons acting as citizens, with the encouragement and at the behest of the Church were not always ethical, legal or Christian.

Just a few short years ago, for example, the Church orchestrated an attempt to control California law making regarding gay marriage, feeling that Californians were likely to adopt a measure to ensure equality under law to homosexuals and to ensure that Californians failed in passage of a measure unacceptable to the LDS Church, sent caravans of thousands of Utah Mormons – acting as “citizens” of course, to California to march in the streets, often pretending to be Californians to influence non-passage of the bill – and it worked – and it worked primarily as a result of Utah influence.

Participation in this scheme was considered a “duty” of every member of the church to combat Satan and the weakness of the immoral people of California.

Well, this is just plain unethical behavior and many parts of their plan were also not legal.

But the ends were seen to justify the means, especially if everyone is told to not talk about it.

Time rolls on and most people are too distracted by paying bills and putting food on the table to devote too many memory cells to keeping fresh memories of Mormon badness.

These thinly veiled attempts to practice the old, “Beat the Devil at His Own Game” policy of the Church are embarrassing to some Mormons but are vigorously championed by too many others, and are initiated at an official level of Church administration.

So, now, when the laws of the United States and the laws of Utah and the laws of Utah County, Utah and the laws of American Fork, Utah all point to the fact that we have not violated any laws, but the agencies of state and federal government (in Utah) hand out the same claim made by Illinois Governor Ford to Mormon Prophet and Founder Joseph Smith, “Your cause is just, but I can do nothing for you.”, while locally, all pretense to law and ethics are ignored in a blatant effort to further the Mormon agenda and earn some brownie points for the LDS participants who are attacking a church and spiritual practice, not because of any violation of law, but because Mormonism doesn’t believe in it – well then it is religion on religion discrimination and is a violation of the RLUIPA of 2002 co-sponsored by US Senator Ted Kennedy and bizarrely enough Utah’s own US Senator Orrin Hatch.

The commenter that got me to write this article, Chris, points out quite correctly that the real problem is the parent and the child and to Chris and everyone else, I very sincerely say that I agree and that I wish the local LDS government leaders had taken just that stand, in which case I would not even have known about the incident, much less be charged for laws I did not break.

But that is not what happened.

The local LDS members as civil servants, not church representatives, took it on themselves to enforce Mormon views as if they were law and to use unethical and illegal actions of discrimination, intimidation, theft (though “authorized” by warrant) and threat in an effort that was clearly intended to drive the offending church and their spiritual services not just out of town, but out of Utah completely.

So when the Chief of Police stands in my church and tells me to my face that if I don’t like being harassed by the local government and citizenry, why don’t I just move out of Utah and why don’t I just go back to Detroit if I don’t like how I am treated here, it is pretty obvious what is going on.

And what is going on is religious persecution and it is not legal.

And everyone in government in Utah would like to pretend it does not involve them and many are distancing themselves from involvement I presume because in the LDS Church, people are “taking names”.

It is well known here that it does not do to take a posture that might shine a negative light on the LDS Church because your social, church and employment status may be in serious jeopardy if you do.

You don’t have to go back too far in Utah history to read about the Salt Lake 6 or others who, like the ERA women were punished by the LDS Church for being honest, ethical and Constitutionally correct when the Church preferred they be otherwise for public image reasons.

I am amazed that it does not inspire a full revolt by Mormons when they see that the Church cares more about their public image than it does about their own members “spiritual” opportunities.

The Church is quick to chop off anyone who fails to bow to direction from even local leadership even when such direction contradicts the official doctrine of the church or it’s leadership handbooks of instruction.

When you are excommunicated from the LDS church it is announced in local and regional church meetings that you are unfit for personal association while it is encouraged that you be prayed for.

In this society that means you may be persecuted at or lose your job and have a difficult time getting a new one.

In Utah, those practices are so prevalent that “turning a blind eye” to such illegal behavior is simply winked at rather than condemned for the illegal and unethical behavior that it is.

When such practice is widely engaged in by Bishops and Apostles, what are the simple Members to think and when the ability to care for your family and maintain your reputation in the community (and not be branded Satanic) is at risk, few have the courage or unfortunately the moral integrity to “choose the right” and stand against corrupt authority.

When the people of Utah overwhelmingly voted to become a State in the United States of America, they gave up the right to claim Utah for Mormons Only.

While any one has a perfect right to encourage the social adoption of their particular preferences, no one has the right to do so at the expense of the rights of other members of the community or to do so illegally or to promote social convention that is not legal or constitutional.

To do such as an exercise of religious perspective and to discriminate against other people’s practice of their legal rights to their own religious perspective and exercise is especially despicable.

This is what American Fork and some members of Utah state government have done.

Yes Chris, the police should have told the father that his issue was with his child and had a heart to heart with the child about their disrespectful and dishonest behavior.

But that’s not what happened.

This simple problem that most parents must endure as they raise their children, that children often disobey and disrespect family values and sometimes violate the rights of neighbors, was seen and seized upon by the parent and the local authorities as an opportunity to force their religious perspective on the community, to impose their concept of morality and to attempt to use their civil authority illegally by persecuting and threatening prosecution against law abiding members of the community simply because they exercise their Constitutional Right to believe differently than them.

I am very sorry for all the Mormons who are offended by this but I must remind them that it is the corrupt behavior of their own members that is offending, not my defense of the protections of your and my rights of religious exercise declared in the Constitutions of the United States and Utah.

So are you going to hide behind your shield of ignorance and religious bigotry and endorse these criminal acts by your failure to overcome your embarrassment over the actions of those who are supposed to behave admirably but aren’t?

Or are you going to stand up for freedom and right?

Since it is so rare for anyone who reads here to leave any comments even though I get several hundred reader visits per week and since I wonder if anyone actually reads the comments that are occasionally made, and since I find the comments to an article interesting though often ignorant and disgusting but certainly revealing and occasionally even gratifying, I thought I would post the comments from the Deseret News article written about the January 3rd, 2008 raid on our ministry.

And I would like to give a heartfelt thank you to all of you who do care to visit and read here. I hope you find it time well spent.

Feel free to comment on the comments, and if you like you can still go to Deseret News comments and make comments there.

If you missed the actual article these comments are in response to, you can read it here http://www.deseretnews.com or here http://docloco.com/2008/01/23

Here are the comments as of today. I'll continue to update them.

susan | 3:07 a.m. Jan. 23, 2008

That is certainly sounding like it did not have all the legalities covered. Good for you stick up for your rights.

DahktaD | 6:00 a.m. Jan. 23, 2008

To have a tattoo requires the individual to be 18 or older...or with parental consent. A question arises as to the age of this child who found these pictures so inapproriate, what was this child doing in the tattoo palor, and where were her parents?
Life in Happy Valley...were the prudes and malcontents roam freely.

Anonymous | 8:00 a.m. Jan. 23, 2008

One ear peircing and no tatoos. Advocate anything else and face the ire

Anonymous | 8:36 a.m. Jan. 23, 2008

It is common for people under 18 to go in these places because they are the only places you cn get your navel or nose peirced. Sorry if my spelling is off.

Anonymous | 8:37 a.m. Jan. 23, 2008

It appears that Judge that signed the search warrant thought that the circumstances where illegal enough to sign a warrant. By the shop's own statement the books where in the open. Just what we need is a group of juveniles seeing adult piercings. If an adult wants to participate in this that is their business. But it should be kept out of sight from minors.

Anonymous 2 | 8:43 a.m. Jan. 23, 2008

It would appear from the article that the Judge who signed the search warrant thought that there was enough information that the incident was illegal. It is also not an illegal search if there was a warrant. By the shop's own statements the "adult Piercings" book was out in the open. Just what we need is minors seeing this material. If an adult wants to engage in this that it their business, but kids should not be exposed to it.

I'm Shocked | 8:58 a.m. Jan. 23, 2008

I can't believe there was a tattoo parlor in Happy Valley in the first place! Honestly, I didn't think the place was that hip. Guess them BYU basketball players need to get their ink somewhere.

Anonymous | 9:02 a.m. Jan. 23, 2008

To those who defend... Did you read he stated that the "album" was stored on the front counter. It is now stored under the front counter. Sounds like he did know that the placement of the "album" was against the law. He should not be given sympathy on this one. Children going to the shop with (or on a dare without a parent) should not be viewing that type of "artwork". Perhaps the "album" was left open when the children entered the shop. Think before you defend.

Anonymous | 9:58 a.m. Jan. 23, 2008

CHILL OUT FOLKS. First of all, the pictures were IN AN ALBUM not hanging on the wall. This "child" had to go out of their way to open up the album and then go crying to daddy about the "bad" pictures. WAH!! Second, what was this "child" doing in a tattoo parlor with out parental supervision? The father can complain about the "child" seeing inapporpriate pictures but cant be bothered with keeping tabs on his kid? If you don't want your child seeing bad stuff then keep track of where they are going.

Third, it sounds like the pictures were of the tattoo/piercing work that they can do there. it wasn't there to tittilate or be suggestive, or anything like that. This isn't a "forbidden" book as others suggested, it was just an ADULT book, as was clearly marked. Didn't the "child" see that it was clearly marked for Adults? couldnt they read, couldnt they see that they shouldn't be looking there? Quit jumping to conclusions before all the facts are in. Just because a warrant was issued does not mean that it was JUSTIFIED!!!

DahktaD | 11:50 a.m. Jan. 23, 2008

Again the question is asked...Where were these godfearing parents to allow their child in such a horrendous place? Are their parenting abilities so poor that they cannot keep track of their youngster, but yet proclaim the virtues of innocence when their child TRESPASSES into the this parlor? Does their child also sneak around consuming illegal alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, as well? Rather odd to place blame on a proprietor when they can't control their own child.

Mahershalalhashbaz | 12:15 p.m. Jan. 23, 2008

The tat parlor is open to the public. Teenagers go places where their parents don't want them to go. Duh. That's why we have laws to protect minors from this stuff.

Girly | 3:47 p.m. Jan. 23, 2008

What did those teenage girls think they were going to see in an album labeled "adult body piercings"? I think it was unneccessary for the A.F. Police to confinscate the artists' photos. Why didn't the parent just call the shop and suggest for the owners to put the book behind the counter?

kimmer | 4:41 p.m. Jan. 23, 2008

I think it is extreamly stupid to confinscate the shops stuff. If anyone should be in trouble it should be the kid for getting into a folder marked "adult body peircing". I mean heck if the kids old enuff to be out without adult supervision then she should had been taught to keep her nose out of stuff that she dosen't belong in, in the first place.

ms | 10:02 p.m. Jan. 23, 2008

Dr. Lowry: genital piercings for Jesus. Interesting concept.

AmyX | 10:23 p.m. Jan. 23, 2008

It is too bad it has become such a police state in which you punish a shop owner because unsupervised minors show up in a shop picking up a book with is labeled 'adult piercings' and then parents blame a shop owner for the conduct of said minor.

The minor/s should be fined for trespassing being minors are not allowed in a tattoo shop without the parent or guardian.

obey the laws | 9:22 a.m. Jan. 24, 2008

The laws are put in place to prevent this kind of problem. Shop owners are held responsible to obey the law. That does not mean parents do not have responsibilities, but this father did do the right thing by reporting the problem. Are you all really willing to pretend that parents can control EVERY move a teenager makes? The album should be kept in an "Adult Only" room. The shop is located on a main street, where many people pass by daily. We try to protect all children from adult themes in movies and magazines. Why should this business owner be held to a lesser degree of responsibility than a movie theater?

Proud supporter of AmyX | 9:40 a.m. Jan. 24, 2008

Just another reason for Utah county to keep the label: "Land of the Prude." Did you know that Happy Valley Tattoo isn't the only tattoo parlor in Utah county? They ALL do adult piercings. They all tattoo in the same adult areas as well. I agree with every word AmyX wrote. Kudos to you Amy!

I know this goes quite far and has zero legal merit, but wouldn't it be great if we could fine parents for their own stupidity? Seriously now.

Maryanne | 9:52 a.m. Jan. 24, 2008

I have been in this tattoo shop and looked at their art & photographs and have seen nothing a minor could not have found and bought in a book store.

Their portfolios are not even racy. They are photos of the work they do. Nothing pornographic about them.

These people are very good people who do their best to monitor their business. They are family type of people.

Their employees are not like what you would find in the other shops in their area. The place is clean, open and friendly. They really they care about their clients.

Even with the photo albums out in the waiting room, they are monitored. One of the artists came and stood by me and talk to me while I looked at them.

I would suspect they put them behind the counter to prevent people from stealing parts of them. They told me that happens all of the time.

There must be more to this story. I'm going to check out their website and see what they have to say about this.

Nikkih | 10:35 a.m. Jan. 24, 2008

I totally respect our police forces but this is out of line. If they had an issue with these books they should have handled it in a different manner. Possibly they could have went into the shop and talked to them about the complaint. I do know that my husband and I have both gotten tattoos from this shop and I know that the sign hanging on the door says that if you are a minor you must be accompied by an adult. If this girl could read and could follow the rules she should know that she shouldn't be in there anyways. If you see a stop sign you stop right??? Obviously she couldn't follow the rules....It's just to bad that us Utah County people have been put in this bubble and we really think that it's ok to critcize these people for what is called art. Before I got my tattoo I wanted to see work just like I would if I was going to get a piercing. Thats why artists have portolios to show there work and increase there clientelle. These people are just trying to make money just like you and me.

Anonymous | 10:44 a.m. Jan. 24, 2008

What if the same kid went into the library, opened a copy of National Geographic, and saw a nude African lady working in a field somewhere in Ghana?

Is that, too, considered pornography? Of course not. There's nothing sexual about it, it's merely a photo of someone working in a field, that's all. When I was in school, we had National Geographic in every classroom, and of course us boys would look at naked African women and laugh, but was it porn? Did our little minds get warped, did we go home and molest the family dog because of it? No. We just learned what a boob looked like, that's all. No harm done.

These kids shouldn't have been in the shop to begin with. In fact, from what I've heard, as soon as an employee noticed there were minor children in the shop, she asked them to leave. Without keeping the front door of a public business locked, how is a business owner supposed to make certain that minors don't walk in? It happens in bars all the time- minors walk in, usually get carded, and get tossed back out again.

Anonymous New Mexico | 11:00 a.m. Jan. 24, 2008

I have been to Happy Valley Tattoo, in fact, I have received two tattoos from the shop owner Kita Lowrey herself and so I can say without a doubt that this shop is one of the most cleanest, most professional, and perhaps the best in the State of Utah. I have been to several shops in the Utah county and I will not step foot in any other again except Happy Valley Tattoo. They pride themselves on their work, their cleanliest, and also on the type of sterile procedure they follow. Where else in Utah and other states can you find tattoo artists using the best disposable needles for YOUR PROTECTION? The chances are slim because most places don’t want to pay extras, they would rather boil needles in hot water than waste money on disposable needles. Besides that, they comply with all Utah County Health Department Regulations… Now, I know that the shop is under investigation for supposedly showing pictures of Mr. Lowrey’s artwork of genital piercings to a teenager. The Online Wikipedia’s definition of....Part 1

Anonymous New Mexico | 3:09 p.m. Jan. 24, 2008

PART 2:
The Online Wikipedia’s definition of “Pornography or porn is, in its broadest state, the explicit representation of the human body or sexual activity with the goal of sexual arousal and/or sexual relief. It is to a certain extent similar to erotica, which is the use of sexually-arousing imagery for mainly artistic purposes.” According to this, Happy Valley Tattoo Shop did not do any such thing. Yes, it was a picture of the human body, but their goal was not to sexual arousal or give sexual relief, but to merely to show customers the quality of their workmanship!!! They have signs posted on the door, on the window and again on the countertop. If the teenager was blind or deaf or perhaps illiterate which I seriously doubt, she/he was given fair warning BEFORE she/he entered the shop and AFTER she/he entered the shop. The only person that should be in trouble is the teenager! Case Closed!

Marissa | 7:54 p.m. Jan. 24, 2008

I think that all of us who fully support Happy Valley Tattoo, expected something like this to come along sooner or later.
Only because, the greatest oppression happens to the greatest artists.
It is an age old tale...
controversy over such taboos, like tattoos and piercings, but in this case it is more.
Controversy over artistic nudity.
Like Michelangelo's “David.”
Is it nothing more then an artists self-expression?
Yet, we treat it like a crime.
When did the human body become something we fear?
When did individual freedom and individuality become a crime in this country?

Of course, tattoos and piercings can mean different things to different people, but we must recognize the fact that first and foremost it the individuals decision.
It is the individuals body, and right to posses
some independent symbolization on their both body and in their mind.
"What you put into your body DOES NOT DEFILE you, unless it is toxic. It is what comes out of your mouth and heart that DEFILES! Tattoos and piercings do not defile a person – while belittling or disfranchising those who wear them does!"
-Quoting from an article by, Kita Kazoo in January of 2008.

Kita Kazoo | 8:14 p.m. Jan. 24, 2008

1st - I'd like to give credit to Dr. Lowrey aka Doc Loco) for the quote above, it came from something he wrote at his blog and I accidentally re-posted without giving proper credit.

2nd - I'd like to thank Cathrine for writing an objective article and so quickly. I am looking forward to reading more of her work.

3rd - I'd like to thank those who have had supportive and encouraging comments.

Amanda | 11:46 a.m. Jan. 25, 2008

The minor under speculation was at the time accompanied by her Mother, who lives out of state. The minor returned with other minors later and were asked to leave due to lack of parental supervision. Looks lawful and legal to me. That information comes from the "Happy Valley Tatoo and Body Piercing Blog" I enjoy weekly!
On a personal note, I have known the family for years and have never once seen anything scandalous nor pornographic pertaining to nor surrounding the family nor the buisness.
On second personal note I'm on my way in for a piercing! With love and God bless!

mia | 8:44 p.m. Jan. 25, 2008

I just got my tattoo at Happy Valley. That is the best tattoo and piercing place I have ever been to. Great staff and clean environment.... yes I will be back.
Good luck guys! I am with you!

Rejected Once | 10:41 a.m. Jan. 26, 2008

It is interesting that the monitors didn't allow my comment a few days ago, where I pointed out that Incas used gentile piercings in their religious ceremonies and that the rest of the nation considers Utahan's to be backwards in that they would prudishly considering clinical photos of piercings to be pornography.

But they did allow someone to call the shop owner/MINISTER "White Trash" in their post. Isn't that calling names? This to me seems like a slanted approach to monitoring.

By the way everyone, the constitution is clear in the fact that you are innocent until proven guilty. Until Dr Lowery has his day in court & is proven guilty by 12 of his peers - No one broke the law!

Dr. Lowrey | 11:22 p.m. Jan. 26, 2008

I sincerely appreciate the fair and unbiased reporting from the Deseret News.

It is sad that so many are so quick to assume the worst and to condemn those who hold a different spiritual perspective than they do.

Had the police avoided a fascist knee jerk approach the parent would have found their issue was with their children not with the artist's samples of their work.

The problem is compounded since no laws were broken and the police action has taken on the specter of religious oppression.

That the church run tattoo studio serves the needs of it's patrons with historically supported spiritual practices certainly complicates matters.

It is understandable that some members of the community, having been taught that God is ashamed of His creations would be confused and upset by a church that believes the opposite.

Our church has gone to extra measures to be good and inoffensive neighbors and are not purveyors of porn.

We are victims of filthy dreamers, speaking evil of things of which they know nothing.

I am gratified by the kind words of support from those who do know us.

Thank you.

In the end, truth wins while bigotry fails.

Thank God!

Anonymous | 1:45 p.m. Jan. 27, 2008

The issue in this situation is were the pictures pornographic in nature? Are portfolios of cosmetic surgery considered pornographic? Are medical references considered pornographic? The photographs depicted in the piercing portfolio are examlples of procedures that have been performed and that are availible to the clientel who enter the establishment. They are not sexual in nature and could not be interpreted as such. Personal opinions of these procedures dictate nothing of their legality.

Most of my children have made their way back there without so much trouble.  Why can't I? 

I miss them and even worse, I miss my grand-babies.

What is this Karma?  What did I do to deserve this?

I am confused... Why I haven't been able to just pack up and leave like so many other misfits seem to manage.  How can someone as accomplished as I am be unable to choose where I will live my life?  Why can’t I just do it?  What is this energy that holds me hostage here?. 

Until the American Fork Police Department decided to take a special notice to us, the plan for this year was to open a new shop up in Detroit and through the next four years move those of our employees who wanted to, to that shop and leave the rest here, well trained and in charge of their own futures.  That way the good people of Utah County would still have a place to safely get tattoo services and I would get to be a full time grandma to my grandchildren in Michigan.

I think it is fairly strange that the very people, who want me to leave and never come back, are the ones throwing up the road blocks to me actually doing this.  Now I have to work double hard to provide the money for these new legal expenses and to try to open a new location 2000 miles away. 

Doing either one of these things is a major undertaking on a good day and seems impossible when I am under so much stress. It makes me wonder if leaving Utah is really in the cards for me at all.  I haven’t been able to even keep up with the little things in my life… Like dishes, sweeping, and at work drawing for clients… Never the less, figure out how to make each hard won dollar do the duty of three!

After all I am an artist.  Unlike a thick skinned pit bull police chief, city attorney or politician… Artists are sensitive!

Right now it appears to me that it would be easier for the earth to pull out of orbit from the sun than for me to leave Utah, as so many people in my local government wish I would.

I ask myself, why I am stuck here. 

What is this strange twist in the plot of my life story? 

And if my plan is not going to happen, what is?

Well, that is how the old song goes, isn't it?

It is very hard to feel empathy for Chief Call, Lt. Falslev, City Atty. Tucker, Mayor Thompson and others who are obviously suffering from low self-esteem - which I consider to be the underlying cause of their actions against us - though I really would like to.

I mean, I am trying very hard and I believe in having empathy for the suffering of others.

It is just hard to feel empathy for someone when they are actively harassing you and attempting to intimidate you.

I am trying to be like Jesus of course, but I'm afraid I'm not there quite yet.

We are used to having the Police be huge fans of ours - obviously not some of the American Fork Police, though we do have some clients who are on the American Fork Police Department as well as Pleasant Grove and Orem and maybe other departments as well.

But in Michigan after surveying all of our clients for a year we found policemen were our third highest client by occupation.

Registered Nurses were #1 and Firemen #2 and in fairness I suppose I should point out that 3rd place was a tie between policemen and elementary school teachers.

The police there were often in the studio and were eager to render service to us and partake in our services.

We had one patron who was a vice-cop who had Kita tattoo his badge on his pelvis, so on sting operations, he could drop his pants and say "You're Busted!"

Outside of Utah, it's ok to have a sense of humor I guess.

So anyway, I'm wondering today why the American Fork Police (my staff thought it looked like Chief Call actually) pulled up in a squad car and parked right in front of our door and stared at the studio for several minutes, then made a phone call and drove away.

To me, it was an act of intimidation - kind of a "We are watching you and we can invade you when we want" kind of thing.

I'm sure if I parked in front of Chief Call's house or outside his office I would get some serious attention over it.

I do expect that the police have some sort of agenda and was not the least surprised when they "sprung" their charges on me, though I think both charges so far are good proof of their mean and criminal intent against us and reflect their general limited intellect.

I was actually expecting some kind of charges this week as I figured they would spring one on us each week in an ongoing attempt to "rattle our cages" so to speak.

Of course this week is not over yet, so we could still see something.

A couple weeks ago, they were determined to charge Shandi and were promising her that they would be charging her with a misdemeanor only because they were nice and liked her; they believed she was a really good person - but they also were sure